Bolt casing



Oct. 18, 1949. l Q F FRlEND 2,485,042

BOLT CASING Filed May 8, 1945 Fon 7111s HRM .Arron/viva.

Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOLT CASING Carl F.Friend, Burbank, Calif.

Application May 8, 1945, Serial No. 592,547

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a means for releasably restraining an edge of amember and, more specifically, to a device of this general nature whichis particularly adapted for latching and locking doors, windows, gates,or other like members, which will hereinafter be referred to by thegeneral term door.

Most conventional door latching mechanisms employ handles which must berotated or otherwise manipulated in a direction which does notcorrespond to the direction of motion to be communicated to the door.Conventional devices of this character frequently require that personsunfamiliar with the latching mechanism involved expend a considerablemeasure of time in experimentation before finally effecting operationthereof. Although normally such an expenditure of time merely representsan undesirable inconvenience, situations may arise which demand that anunfamiliar door be operable instantaneously to permit passagetherethrough without inordinate delay. A primary objective of myinvention, therefore, is the provision of a latching device whichpermits operation of the door by merely pushing or pulling on suitablehandles to effect displacement of the door in the direction of theapplied force.

Conventional door handles are apparently designed primarily to perform aspecified operation with little throught of safeguarding the hands ofpersons using the door or of providing handles with a smooth and uniformsurface. Since common door handles are accessible from almost any angle,injuries resulting from inadvertent insertion of the hands between thehandle and door, or between the edge of the door and door jamb are notuncommon.

Another primary objective of my invention, therefore, is to provide doorhandles which are only accessible for operation in a region removed fromthe edge of the door and which do not require that the hand of anoperator be inserted between the handle and the door. I prefer toprovide handles which are smooth and uniform to prevent injuries toperson or damage to clothing and which are adapted to facilitatecleaning operations. The provision of handles of this character furtherresults in a device which offers a distinctive and pleasing appearanceand which may be employed to supplement conventional decorative ationsis another primary objective of my invention. I prefer to provide a doorlock assembly which may be inserted into an ordinary cut-out or notch inthe edge of the door and which may be secured to the door in a simplemanner. The invention also permits installation of the door lock setwithout any necessity for disassembly thereof, thereby materiallyreducing the installation time required.

An additional objective of my invention is to provide a door lock 4setwhich may be employed in either a normal upright position or in aninverted position without alterations.

A further objective is to provide a convenient and simple means forlocking the latching mechanism of the door lock assembly.

These and other objectives of my invention may be realized by means ofthe embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, which is forillustrative purposes only, wherein: I

Fig. l is 'a side View of the door lock set with parts broken away toreveal the details of the latching and locking mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 andillustrates the latched position of the device;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrates the unlatchedposition;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 andillustrates the construction of the locking mechanism in detail;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the door lock assembly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a housing for the latching and lockingmechanisms; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a latching bolt.

The door lock set, indicated generally by the numeral In, is positionedin a cut-out or notch I I which extends inwardly from the forward edgeI2 of a door I3, the latter being disposed adjacent a door jamb I4 and adoor stop I5, which are shown in phantom. The door jamb I4 is providedwith an opening It therein which is in registry with an opening I"I in alatch plate I8, the latter being adapted for engagement with the doorlock set I0, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The door lock set I0 includes a housing 20 containing a latching bolt 3Uwhich may be reciprocated in the direction of the longitudinal-axisthereof by a transversely displaceable actuating link 40, displacementof the latter being effected by handles 5@ and 5I which are pivotallyconnected thereto and which are pivotally mounted on the housing 20. Thelatching bolt 30 may be locked in the latched position by means of alockfing bolt 6U adapted for insertion between the latching bolt 30 andthe housing 20, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The housing 20, as best shown in Fig. 6, preferably comprises a pair ofcomplementary plates -2|, the outer edges of which cooperate to form achannel section 22 which is complementary to and adapted for insertionin the notch II in the door I3. Sides 23 of the channel 22 embrace thedoor I3 in the vicinity of the notch II and are provided with holes 24therethrough to permit securing the housing 2U to the door I3 by screws25. The central portions of the plates 2|, which may be secured togetherby spot welding or otherwise as is well known in the art, cooperate tode-v ne a longitudinal guide passage 26 adapted for the reception of thelatching bolt 30. The guide passage 26 is provided with a transverseslot 2.1. therethrough which is adapted to receive the actuating link 40therein, and the housing 20 is provided with an elongated opening 28therethrough for the reception of the locking bolt 60. The forward endsof the channel 22 are provided with holes 29 therethrough to permitpivotal attachment of the handles 50 and 5I, as will be described indetail hereinafter.

The forward end 3I of the latching bolt 30 is tapered. as illustrated topermit facile insertion thereof into the opening I'I in the latch plateI8, and the central portion of the latching bolt 3|) is provided with anelongated opening 32 therethrough to permit transverse insertion of theactuating link 40. The rear end of the opening 32 is inclined to definea cam surface 33' adapted for engagement with the actuating link 40, anda coil spring 34 is disposed in the opening 32 and coacts with thelatching bolt 30 and the link 4I) to maintain the tapered end 3I of thebolt 30 Iwithin the opening I'I in the latch plate I8. The rear endface35 of the latching bolt 30 is adapted for engagement with the lockingbolt 60, as will be discussed hereinafter.

The actuating link 40 is provided with a notch 4I therein which definesa cam surface 4'2, the latter being complementary to and adapted forengagement with the cam surface 3.3 of the latching bolt 30 to causelongitudinal motion of the bolt 3,0in the direction of the arrow 36 whenthe link 40 is displaced transversely in the direction ofthe arrow 43'.The ends of the actuating link 4I), are pvotally attached to the handles50 and I by pins 44; and 45, extending through holes 46 and 41 in thelink 40.

'I he handles 55 and 5I, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are pivotallysecured to the housing 2l) by means of pins 5 2 extending through holes5,3 therein and through the holes 2!) in the forward ends of the channel22.. The handles 50 and 5l are preferably of the general smooth andarcuate form illustrated and diverge toward the rear of the doer lockset I 0,. The rear edges of the handles 5@ and 5I are provided withgrooves 54 therein which are preferably of a semi-circular configurationas illustrated to permit convenient reception of the fingertips of aperson desirous ofY opening the door I3. The inner surfaces of thehandles 5&1 and 5I are provided with recesses 55 therein for thereception of the pivoted ends of the actuating link 40 and are providedwith grooves 56 which are adapted to receive the guide passage 25therein. Transverse holes 51 through the handles 50 and 5I are providedto permit insertion of a key (not shown) into engagement with thelocking bolt 60.

The locking bolt 60 is preferably formed in two complementary sections6I which may be securedl together by rivets 62 as illustrated in Fig. 4,or otherwise as is well known in the art. The locke ing bolt `IIl isprovided with a pair of arms 63 which embraces the central portion ofthe housing 20, and is provided with a locking projection 54 which isadapted for insertion between the rear end face 35 of the latching bolt30 and the housing to prevent rearward retraction of the forward end 3igf the latching bolt 3U from the opening I'I in the latch plate I8. Theforward or free ends of the arms `(i3 are provided with notches 55therein which are engageable by a key (not shown) inserted through oneof the key holes 5l to effect operation of the locking bolt 60 to lockor unlock the door, the unlocked position of the locking bolt 6I! beingshown in phantom in. Fie- 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 and assuming an open position for the door I3 withthe locking bolt 60 in the unlocked position, the door I3 may be closedin the direction of the arrow 'I4 by pushing on the hand1e50.(or thedoor I3 or pulling on the handle 51| as indicated by the arrows Ill and'II, respectively. The tapered forward end 3l of the latching boltr 3l!vwill engage the entering edge I9. of the latch plate I8 and the bolt 30will be displaced rearwardly, thereby compressing the spring 34. As thetapered end 3| enters into registry with the opening I'I in the latchplate I8, the compressed spring 314 will urge the tapered end l3| intothe opening Il, thereby latching the door I ilA with the forward edge I2of the latter abutting the stop I 5 as best shown in Fig. 2. The lockingbolt 60 may then be actuated by a suitable key to lock the door I 3.

When the door I3 is to be opened in the directicncf the arrow 'l5 ofFig. 3, the locking bolt 6I! may be unlocked and the door I3 opened byplacing the fingertips in the groove 54 in the handle 5l)v andpullipethcrecn as indicated by the arrow 12;, or by pushing on thehandle 5I in the directicn ci the arrow 13.` The displacement of thehandles Fill-and 5I effects transverse displacement of the actuatinglink 4,0 in the direction indicatedgby the arrow 4:3, whereby the camsurfaces33and i12-.cooperate to retract the latching bolt 30 and effectdisengagement .fbetween the tapered end 3I andthe latch plate I8.

From, the; preceding discussion, it will be apparentthatthe forcesIapplied to the handles 5D and 5I are always in the direction of motionto be communicated tothe door I3, whether a closing oropening operationbe involved. Thus, a person desirous of opening or closing the door I3need merely obey his natural impulses regarding the operation thereof.It should further be noted that since the handles 5U and 5I are onlyadapted for operation by the fingertips at the rear edges thereof whenpulling thereon, the handles 5B and 5I are onlyacceSSble in a regionwell removed from the edge` I-Z of the door I3, thus making inadvertentinsertion of the hands vbetween the door Iii-andldeor jamb I4 virtuallyimpossible. The design of the handles 5l and 5 I and grooves 5d alsoIprevents entrapment of the hands between the door I3kand the handles5and 5I, a common occurrencev with conventional handles of the knob orloop type. lIfhe smoothness and uniformity of the handled Eiland 5I`makes injuries to person or damage toclothing impossible, since thereare no rough projections to cause such injury or damage, Furthermore,the handle design obviates the frequent damage to clothing resultingfrom hookingl a pocket of a garment over the Conventional door handles;The handles 50apd 5,1 are adapted for fabrication from any suitablemetallic or thermoplastic materials in a Variety ci pleasing. colors,and may be employed to.' citer a material contribution tc the colorscheme of a room.

The uniform smoothnessand regularity of the surfaces of the handles 50and also greatly facilitate cleaning and polishing operations.

The novel configuration of the housing 20 permits insertion of the doorlock set I0 in a simple cut-out or notch Il and materially facilitatesinstallation of the device l0, since the latter may be inserted in thenotch il as a completely assembled unit with no necessity for theremoval of knobs or handles. Conventional units require mortisingoperations to provide suitable holes and require partial disassembly inorder to effect installation thereof, both being rather laboriousoperations. My invention also provides a door lock set l0 which may beemployed either in the normal upright or in an inverted position withoutany alterations whatsoever.

The housing 20, link 40, and bolts 30 and 60 are preferably fabricatedfrom suitable metallic materials While the handles 50 and 5l arepreferably formed of an appropriate thermoplastic material. It will beunderstood, however, that the scope of the invention is not to belimited to the materials suggested, since any suitable materials may beemployed, as is well known in the art. It will be understood also thatalthough I have illustrated an application of my invention to a door I3which is operable in only one direction and whose travel is limited by adoor stop I5, I do not intend to be limited to the exact constructionshown, since my underlying inventive concept relates to a device whichmay readily be adapted for employment with doors operable in bothdirections.

The specific embodiment which I have described herein for the purpose ofdisclosing my inventive concept will suggest to those proficient in theart various other changes, substitutions, and modifications, many ofwhich may be incorporated without departing from the spirit of theinvention; I do not intend, therefore, to be limited to the specificdisclosures contained herein and hereby reserve the right to all suchchanges, substitutions, and modifications that properly lie within thescope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, a housing for a latching deviceincluding contiguous members Whose outer edges are oppositely deformedto dene a substantially U-shaped channel section therebetween and whosecentral portions are oppositely deformed to denne a guide passagetherebetween.

2. As an article of manufacture, a housing for a latching device foremployment with a door having a notch extending inwardly from an edgethereof, including a, pair of united members having outwardly deformedperipheral portions which cooperate to dei-lne a substantially U-shapedchannel section adapted for insertion in the notch and having outwardlydeformed central portions which cooperate to define a, guide passagewhich is adapted for the reception of a latching bolt.

3. A housing for a latching device which is adapted for employment witha door having an edge with a notch therein, said housing including apair of united members having outwardly deformed peripheral portionswhich cooperate to define a substantially U-shaped channel sectionadapted for receiving portions of the door surrounding the notch, saidmembers including contiguous, united central portions having outwardlydeformed segments which cooperate to dene a guide passage for a latchingbolt, said central portions having openings therethrough for a lockingbolt adjacent the base of said U-shaped channel section.

4. As an article of manufacture, a housing for a latching device whichis adapted to be mounted in an opening in a door, said housingcomprising a pair of housing members each having a peripheral flange,said peripheral flanges being spaced apart and defining a substantiallyU-shaped channel section therebetween, said channel section beingadapted to receive portions of the door adjacent the opening therein,said housing members having central portions which are adapted to beconnected together and one of which is provided with a guide for alatching bolt.

5. In a housing for a latching device which is adapted to be mounted ina notch in an edge of a door, the combination of: a housing structureadapted to be inserted into the notch in the door and having walls whichdene a guide passage having a longitudinal axis and which completelysurround said guide passage in planes substantially parallel to saidaxis, said axis being substantially perpendicular to the notched edge ofthe door when said housing structure is inserted into the notch, andsaid guide passage being adapted to receive alatching bolt which isreciprocable along said axis; and a pair of spaced, generally U-shapedflanges on said housing structure, said flanges being adapted to engageopposite sides of the door adjacent the notch therein when said housingstructure is inserted into the notch.

6. A housing for a latching device as set forth in Iclaim 5 wherein saidguide passage is open at both ends.

7. In a housing for a latching device which is adapted to be mounted ina notch in an edge of a door, the combination of: primary walls defininga channel which is substantially U-shaped both in elevation and in crosssection, said channel being adapted to receive portions of the dooradjacent the notch therein when said latching device is mounted in thenotch; and secondary walls connected to said primary Walls and denning aguide passage having a longitudinal axis which is substantiallyperpendicular to the notched edge of the door when the latching deviceis mounted in the notch, said secondary Walls completely surroundingsaid guide passage in planes substantially parallel to said axis, andsaid guide passage being adapted to receive a latching bolt which isreciprocable along said axis.

CARL F. FRIEND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 478,556 Bettmann, Jr July 12,1892 659,887 Crouch Oct.- 16, 1900 830,361 Peck et al Sept. 4, 19061,423,825 Anderson July 25, 1922 2,317,699 Thompson Apr. 27, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,365 Sweden Aug. 29, 1908

